Vehicle aperture closure drive system

ABSTRACT

A drive system  10  operable to drive vehicle door functions comprising a drive member  20  mounted for rotation about a drive axis by a drive motor  12 , a rocker  24  operable by the drive member  20 , and translation means  16, 18, 22  operable to move the drive member  20  to a predetermined position on said drive axis (FIG.  1 ).

[0001] This application claims priority to British Application Number GB0009792.3 filed on Apr. 25, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the provision of arcuate drive means within a motor vehicle aperture closure such as a vehicle side passenger door, boot lid, sun roof and the like.

[0003] It is increasingly common for motor vehicles to be provided with electric motors housed within the door assemblies thereof. Typically a vehicle door may be provided with a motor adapted to raise and lower a window glass panel, a motor to drive central locking means of the door, and a further motor to enable security locking or deadlocking of the door. More expensive vehicles may have doors provided with additional motors to enable, for example, automatic closing thereof.

[0004] The plurality of motors described above increases both the weight and complexity of a door and a corresponding increases manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a drive system operable to drive vehicle aperture closure functions comprising a drive actuator operably connected to a drive member, the drive member having at least first and second positions and being movable between the first and second positions, operation of the drive actuator when the drive member is in the first position causing operation of an aperture closure function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a drive system according to the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 shows the cross-sectional view indicated by arrows A-A in FIG. 1

[0009]FIG. 3 shows an alternative cross-sectional profile for a driveshaft for use in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a schematic isometric view of a vehicle including a drive system according to the present invention, and

[0011]FIG. 5 shows an isometric schematic view of a further vehicle including a drive system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a drive system, generally designated 10 for a vehicle door assembly. The drive system 10 comprises a drive actuator in the form of a main motor 12 having a drive shaft 14 extending therefrom, a stepper motor 16 having a threaded shaft 18 extending therefrom, a drive member 20 slidably mounted on the drive shaft 14, and a yoke 22 mounted on the threaded shaft 18. The drive system 10 further includes a plurality of rockers 24 pivotably mounted to a rocker shaft 26 and a window regulator shaft 28 provided substantially co-axially with respect to the drive shaft 14. The rockers 26 are movable to operate door functions, such as locking functions, via link members 50. The main motor 12 and stepper motor 16 are electric motors.

[0013] The stepper motor 16, threaded shaft 18 and yoke 22 together form a selector actuator.

[0014] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the drive shaft 14 is substantially square in cross-section and is received in a correspondingly shaped aperture 30 of the drive member 20. The drive member 20 has the general form of a disc and is provided with abutment surfaces 32, 34 adapted to, in use, engage an engagement portion 36 of respective rockers 24. In the embodiment shown the abutment surfaces 32, 34 are defined at opposing sides of a recessed portion 38 of the peripheral edge 40 of the drive member 20.

[0015] The yoke 22 is provided with a slot 41 within which the drive member 20 is received. A threaded aperture 42 in the base 44 of the yoke 22 is adapted to receive the threaded shaft 18 and hence enable the yoke 22 to be driven by the stepper motor 16.

[0016] The drive member 20 is further provided with drive teeth 46 which are adapted to engage corresponding drive teeth 48 provided on the window regulator shaft 28.

[0017] Operation of the drive system 10 is as follows. The stepper motor 16 is operated to rotate the threaded shaft 18 and, via the threaded connection therebetween, move the yoke 22 with respect to the threaded shaft 18. Movement of the yoke 22 results in corresponding movement of the drive member 20 relative to the drive shaft. Taking the example where it is desired to carry out a locking function via one of the rockers 24, the stepper motor 16 is operated to move the drive member 20 into position relative to the appropriate rocker 24. Once in position the stepper motor 16 ceases operation so as to maintain the drive member 20 in the correct position with respect to the rocker 24.

[0018] The drive motor 12 is then operated to rotate the drive shaft 14 and drive member 20 and move one of the drive member abutment surfaces 34, 32 into engagement with the rocker engagement portion 36. Continued rotation of the drive member 20 causes pivotal movement of the rocker 24 about the rocker shaft 26 and hence executes the locking function.

[0019] Alternatively the drive system 10 may be operated so as to raise or lower a window. In such an operative mode, the stepper motor 16 is driven so as to move the drive teeth 46 of the drive member 20 into engagement with the drive teeth 48 of the window regulator shaft 28. Once these teeth 46, 48 are engaged the drive motor 12 is operated to rotate the window regulator shaft 28.

[0020] Furthermore it is possible to provide a neutral position of the drive system. Such a position is shown in FIG. 1 wherein the drive member (shown dotted) is positioned adjacent the drive motor such that operation of the drive motor does not cause operation of any door function. Such a position can usefully be included to provided additional safety features such that inadvertent operation of the drive motor 12 does not, for example, cause opening or unlocking of a door.

[0021] In further embodiments stepper motor 16 can be replaced by a DC motor or any other suitable power source. In particular where the motor is a DC motor it is advantageous for the drive member 20 to only have a first and second position.

[0022] In further embodiments it is not necessary to provide the selector actuator (i.e., stepper motor 16, threaded shaft 18 and yolk 22) since this function can be performed manually. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous where only a limited number of door functions are required to be performed by the drive actuator for example where the drive actuator operates raising and lowering of a window glass and also operates to close and/or release the door.

[0023] In a further embodiment the selector actuator may be arranged to move the drive actuator and the drive member together as a whole.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows an alternative cross-section profile for a driveshaft 114 for use in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this case it is of the Torques (RTM) profile being smoothly contoured and multilobbed.

[0025]FIG. 4 shows a vehicle 100 including various aperture closures, in particular hood 101, trunk 102, sunroof 103, front side passenger door 104 and rear side passenger door 105. Passenger doors 104 and 105 are pivotally mounted, in this case at a front edge. The aperture closures can include a drive system according to the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 5 shows a vehicle 110 with various aperture closures, in particular a side passenger door 111 which slides to open, a tailgate 112 and a rear window 113.

[0027] Sliding door 111 includes a drive system according to the present invention.

[0028] Tailgate 112 can be pivoted downwards about pivots 114 and rear window 113 can be pivoted upwards about pivots 115. In particular it can be seen that the window 113 has a lower edge 113A which closes against an upper edge 112A of tailgate 112. A drive system according to the present invention is mounted in tailgate 112 and interacts with rear window 113. In particular the drive system in tailgate 112 can be used to lock rear window 113 in a closed position. Alternatively or additionally the drive system mounted in tailgate 112 can be used to drive wiper blade 116, which is mounted on rear window 113. Alternatively or additionally the drive system mounted in tailgate 112 can be used to power a washer pump also mounted on tailgate 112 which squirts water onto rear window 113.

[0029] It can be seen that in this case the function provided by the drive system on tailgate 112 interacts with the adjacent rear window 113. claims 

1. A drive system operable to drive vehicle aperture closure functions comprising a drive actuator operably connected to a drive member, the drive member having at least first and second positions and being movable between the first and second positions, operation of the drive actuator when the drive member is in the first position causing operation of an aperture closure function.
 2. A drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which operation of the drive actuator when the drive member is in the second position causes operation of a further aperture closure function.
 3. A drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which operation of the drive actuator when the drive member is in the second position does not cause operation of any aperture closure function.
 4. A drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which the aperture closure function moves a window panel.
 5. A drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which the aperture closure function is at least one of: a) locking/unlocking of the aperture closure; b) security locking/unlocking of the aperture closure; c) providing child safety on/off feature of the aperture closure; d) providing orientation functions on an aperture closure mounted exterior mirror; e) causing unlatching of the aperture closure; f) causing closing of the aperture closure from a first safety position to a fully closed position; and g) providing arm rest adjustment of an aperture closure mounted arm rest.
 6. A drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which the drive member is manually movable between the first and second positions.
 7. A drive system as claimed in claim 6 in which the aperture closure function is movement of a window panel.
 8. A drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which the drive member is movable between the first and second positions by a selector actuator.
 9. A drive system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the drive member is slidably mounted on a drive shaft of the drive actuator and the selector actuator is operable to move the drive member along the drive shaft.
 10. A drive system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the drive shaft is shaped so as to be able to transmit rotational movement to the drive member while permitting the drive member to slide thereupon.
 11. A drive system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the driveshaft is non-circular in cross section and is received as a sliding fit in a correspondingly shaped aperture of the drive member.
 12. A drive system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the selector actuator comprises a yoke adapted to bear against the drive member, and drive means operable to move the yoke along a path substantially parallel an axis of the drive shaft.
 13. A drive system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the drive means comprise a motor having a rotatable drive means motor shaft extending therefrom.
 14. A drive system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the drive means motor shaft is threaded and received in a correspondingly threaded aperture of the yoke.
 15. A drive system according to claim 1 in which the aperture closure is one of a pivoting passenger door, sliding passenger door, trunk, tailgate, hood and sun roof.
 16. A drive system according to claim 1 in which the vehicle aperture closure function is an interaction with an adjacent vehicle aperture closure.
 17. A drive system as defined in claim 16 in which the interaction causes interlocking between the aperture closure and adjacent aperture closure.
 18. A drive system as defined in claims 16 in which the interaction causes locking of the adjacent aperture closure. 